CAPT. G. (_Aside_.) Can't hold up eleven stone for ever. It's all your
rheumatism. (_Aloud_.) Can't imagine why I was so clumsy. (_Aside_.) Now
Little Featherweight would have gone up like a bird.
_They ride out of the garden. The Captain falls back._
CAPT. G. (_Aside_.) How that habit catches her under the arms! Ugh!
POOR DEAR MAMMA. (_With the worn smile of sixteen seasons, the worse for
exchange_.) You're dull this afternoon, Captain Gadsby.
CAPT. G. (_Spurring up wearily_.) Why did you keep me waiting so long?
_Et caetera, et caetera, et caetera._
(AN INTERVAL OF THREE WEEKS.)
GILDED YOUTH. (_Sitting on railings opposite Town Hall_.) Hullo, Gaddy!
'Been trotting out the Gorgonzola! We all thought it was the Gorgon
you're mashing.
CAPT. G. (_With withering emphasis_.) You young cub! What the ---- does
it matter to you?
_Proceeds to read GILDED YOUTH a lecture on discretion and deportment,
which crumbles latter like a Chinese Lantern. Departs fuming._
(FURTHER INTERVAL OF FIVE WEEKS.)
SCENE.--_Exterior of New Simla Library on a foggy evening_. MISS
THREEGAN _and_ MISS DEERCOURT _meet among the 'rickshaws_. MISS T. _is
carrying a bundle of books under her left arm_.
MISS D. (_Level intonation_.) Well?
MISS T. (_Ascending intonation_.) Well?
MISS D. (_Capturing her friend's left arm, taking away all the books,
placing books in 'rickshaw, returning to arm, securing hand by the third
finger and investigating_.) Well! You _bad_ girl! And you _never_ told
me.
MISS T. (_Demurely_.) He--he--he only spoke yesterday afternoon.
MISS D. Bless you, dear! And I'm to be bridesmaid, aren't I? You _know_
you promised _ever_ so long ago.
MISS T. Of course. I'll tell you all about it to-morrow. (_Gets
into'rickshaw_.) O Emma!
MISS D. (_With intense interest_.) Yes, dear?
MISS T. (_Piano_.) It's quite true--about--the--egg.
MISS D. What egg?
MISS T. (_Pianissimo prestissimo_.) The egg without the salt. (_Forte_.)
_Chalo ghar ko jaldi, jhampani!_ (Go home, _jhampani_.)